Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-21
The Oldest Man on Earth.

oameS JameS, negro ana citizen OF
the United States, who resides at Santa
Rosa, Mexico, is probably the oldest
man on earth. He was born near Dor
chester, S. G., in 1852, and while an
infant was removed to Midway River,
Ga, in the same year that Franklin
brought down electricity from the
thunder clouds. In 1879 there was
quite an immigration into South Caro-
lima and his master, James James Grom
| whom he takes his name) moved near
Charleston, S. c., in company with
number of his neighbors. On June 4,
l776, when "a years of age, large
British feet, under Sir Peter Parker,
arrived off Charleston. The citizens
had erected palmetto-wood fort on
Sullivan's Island, with twenty-six guns,
manned by 500 troops, under Col. Moul-
trie, and on June %, the British made
an attack by land and water, and were
compelled to withdraw after ten
hours conflict. 1t was during this
fight that Sergeant Jasper distinguished
himself by replacing the flag, which
had been shot away upon the bastion,
on new staff. His master, James
James, manned one of the guns in this
fight, and Jim, with four other slaves,
were employed around the fort as gen
eral laborers. Jim followed his master
throughout the war, and was with Gen.
Moultrie at Port Royal, S. O., Feb. 3,
l779, when Moultrie defeated the COM
bined British forces of Provost and
Campbell. His master was surren-
dered by Gen. Lincoln at Charleston, S.
c., on Feb. ~, 1850, to the British
forces, and this ends Jim's military
career.
He remembers of the rejoicing in 1892
throughout the country in consequence
OF Washington's election to the Presi-
dency, he then being 40 years of age.
In this year his first master died, aged
about 60 years. Jim then became the
property of "Marse Henry" Henry
James,, owning large estates and about
thirty slaves, near Charleston. On &C
count Of having raised "AIarse Henry"
Jim was a special favorite with his mas
ter and was allowed to do as he chose.
His second master, Henry died in 1916,
about IS years Of age, and Jim, now at
63 years of age, became the property
of James James, Henry's second son.
In 1888 the railroad from Charleston
| w CuVdAuaA WdS Gull IJ1GGt'll, Gueu Gu0
longest railroad in the world, and Jim,
with his master, took trip over the
road, and was shown special favors on
account Of his age, now 81. James
James was 10 years of age at his fathers
death, and when he became of age in
herited large estates, slaves, etc., among
whom were cold Uncle Jim" and his
family. James James lived in South
Carolina until 1855, when he moved to
Texas with all his slaves. James de-
sired that his slaves should be free at
his death, and in 1858 moved into
Mexico, so that they could be free be-
fore his death. James returned to the
United States and died in Texas, and
in 1865, after there was no longer
slaves in the United States, Uncle Jim's
children and grandchildren returned
to the United States. Five years ago,
at the age Of 100, Jim could do light
chores, but subs;sted mostly by contri-
buttons from the citizens, but for the
past two years, not being able to walk.
he remains for the most part in his
little jacal, his wants being supplied
by generous neighbors. The rheuma-
tism in his legs prevents him from
walking, but yet he has sufficient
strength in his arms to drag himself a
short distance-ffty yards or more
| St. Louis Globe-DemOcr0t